The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has been awarded the prestigious Gold in the “Fair and Exhibition – Exhibition Design” category at the 2026 German Design Awards.
The accolade, presented by the German Design Council, highlights the Pavilion’s unique architectural approach and its integration of cultural heritage with modern design.
Innovative design and materials
The UAE Pavilion, under the theme Earth to Ether, was built around a series of 90 palm-inspired rachis columns, which rise up to 16 meters high, forming a canopy similar to an oasis. This design incorporated traditional Emirati building techniques, refined with Japanese craftsmanship. Notably, the Pavilion featured innovative materials such as Datecrete and Dateform, which explored the use of local resources.
The German Design Council jury praised the Pavilion for its “clearly structured spatial concept,” emphasizing the central role of the date palm as an architectural element. The multisensory experience created by the combination of light, materials, and interactive features further impressed the judges. The Pavilion successfully combined cultural heritage with a forward-looking vision of the UAE.
A human-centered experience
Atelier Brückner, the experience design consultancy, was responsible for creating the immersive, multisensory journey that visitors experienced. This design encouraged interaction, allowing guests to move through the space and engage with its various stories, thus fostering a deeper connection with the UAE’s history and future aspirations.
His Excellency Shihab Alfaheem, Ambassador of the UAE to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, expressed his pride in the award, stating: “This recognition affirms the intention behind the Pavilion. From the outset, it was conceived as a place where people could encounter one another through architecture, material exploration, and shared experience. We appreciate that this approach has been recognised by the German Design Council and its international jury.”
The German Design Award adds to the list of accolades received by the UAE Pavilion, which has already been recognized for its architectural and sustainable design at Expo 2025. In addition to the Gold Award, the Pavilion was named among the top three national pavilions by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and received multiple honors, including the World Expo Award for Best Staff and the DFA Design for Asia Award in December 2025.
During the six-month event, the UAE Pavilion attracted over five million visitors, making it the most visited national pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.
A space for reflection and innovation
Visitors to the UAE Pavilion were immersed in an experience that bridged tradition with future-focused innovation. The design reflected the UAE’s commitment to advancing progress in space exploration, healthcare, and sustainable technology. Through its architecture, cultural programming, and emphasis on human-centered experiences, the Pavilion underscored the importance of dialogue and collaboration in building a sustainable future.
